ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Opening his round with an eagle on the first hole Friday, professional Eddie Wynne went on to post a bogey-free 6-under 66 at Minneapolis Golf Club to share the first-round lead of the 51st Minnesota Golf Champions with fellow professional Nate Adams and University of St. Thomas’ Owen Rexing.
Winless in 2024, Wynne will look for his fourth win of the season and first major championship since winning the Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship in 2014 at Oak Ridge Country Club.
“Very steady, hit it on the green and hit a lot of close shots today,” Wynne said following his opening round Friday. “Never really got in trouble and I think I missed two greens all day. If you putt well, you’re going to score well.
“Go out tomorrow and hit every shot one at a time. It’s fun when you’re playing with guys who are having fun, you’re more relaxed, but tomorrow will be a different story. Try not to think about it and go hit shots.”
Wynne began his back nine with four birdies over his first five holes to reach 6-under for the day, steady over his final four holes to earn a share of the clubhouse lead with one round to play.
“I’ve had some good rounds and some bad rounds this season,” Wynne said. “It really comes down to putting. If you putt well, I shoot 66 like I did today. If I putt halfway decent, I shoot 69-70.”
Rexing, a senior for the Tommies, also got off to a quick start Friday with an eagle on his opening hole before a birdie at the third to move to 3-under for the championship.
Capitalizing on three more birdie chances during his inward nine, including the par-4 18th, put Rexing in a share of the lead at 6-under 66 as he searches for his first state win since the 2024 Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
Adams traded an early birdie for a bogey before returning to red figures with a birdie at the par-4 eighth to turn in 1-under.
Finding his stride on the back, Adams converted five birdie chances to jump up the leaderboard to also earn a share of the lead with his 6-under 66.
Minnesota Section Player of the Year Thomas Campbell will begin his final round in a share of fourth with 2006 champion Jeff Sorenson, professional Wes Buntenbach and
Josh Esterley after carding rounds of 4-under 68, two shots back of the lead.
The final round of the 51st Minnesota Golf Champions begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at Minneapolis Golf Club.